(SitNews) This is one really big salmon", said Alaska Governor
Frank H. Murkowski speaking at the unveiling ceremony Sunday
of Alaska Airlines' newest aircraft, the "Salmon Thirty
Salmon," a Boeing 737 painted in the likeness of an Alaska
Wild Salmon.

The "Salmon-Thirty-Salmon,"
sporting the glimmering image of a wild Alaska king salmon, is
among the world's most intricately painted commercial airplanes.
Complete with shiny scales, a dorsal fin and gills, the livery
on the Alaska Airlines 737-400 passenger aircraft is the result
of a dedicated team of 30 painters working nearly nonstop for
24 days.

The airplane symbolizes the critical role Alaska Airlines plays
in transporting fresh Alaska seafood to the continental United
States and beyond. The aircraft features the most elaborate design
ever painted on a commercial jet and its art came about from
a unique partnership between Alaska Airlines, Alaska Fisheries
Marketing Board and the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute.

In his remarks at the maintenance
hanger at Ted Stevens International Airport in Anchorage, Gov.
Murkowski said the aircraft serves as a fitting symbol to the
state's important fisheries resource and Alaska Airlines' role
in getting the resource to markets.

"'Alaska Seafood' ranks
second in name recognition throughout the United States, even
higher than 'Hershey's' It is plain to see the branding of Alaska
seafood pays big dividends," Murkowski said. "When
it comes to getting Alaska's seafood to market, Alaska Airlines
plays a role that can only be described as vital."

"This is one really big
salmon. One hundred and 19 feet long and 143,500 pounds to be
exact," Murkowski said. "It will serve as a dramatic
and instantly recognizable ambassador to promoting Wild Alaska
Seafood, the State of Alaska and of course, the airline that
bears Alaska's name."

Seafood is an important driver
of Alaska's export markets, accounting for $1.4 billion or 52
percent of the state's total export market. The U.S. has significantly
increased its appetite for seafood, in particular salmon, as
consumption of fresh and frozen salmon fillets have increased
15 percent annually, according to the Alaska Seafood Marketing
Institute. ASMI's price-tracking program shows increased prices
for all salmon species in 2005.

This year, Alaska Airlines
will fly more than 30 million pounds of seafood from Alaska to
markets in the continental United States, Mexico and Canada.
Streamlined flight schedules and state-of-the-art storage facilities
allow much of that seafood to travel from Alaskan waters to market
and restaurant destinations anywhere in the United States in
less than 24 hours.

"Salmon-Thirty-Salmon"
Photo courtesy Alaska Airlines

"Alaska Airlines has a long history of serving the Alaska
seafood industry, and this special plane celebrates that commitment
in dramatic fashion," said Bill Hines, AFMB's executive
director. Hines noted that about half of the United States' total
seafood catch comes from Alaska fisheries and that Alaska is
considered the world's leader in sustainable management of its
seafood resources.

"At a time when the airline
industry is facing unprecedented challenges, Alaska Airlines
sees great opportunity in the expansion of its cargo operation,"
said Matt Yerbic, Alaska's managing director for cargo services.
"The major investments Alaska Airlines is making in cargo
will better position our company to serve the growing cargo needs
of the state of Alaska, as well as other customers along our
extensive route system in the United States, Canada and Mexico."

This year the carrier finalized
a $15 million contract to retrofit five of its 737-400 aircraft
to cargo configurations, including one all-cargo airplane and
four passenger-cargo "combis." The first converted
cargo aircraft is scheduled to start service in spring 2006.

The "Salmon-Thirty-Salmon"
aircraft was greeted in Seattle by thousands of Alaska Airlines
employees, guests and dignitaries during a salmon homecoming
event at the airline's maintenance hangar. The aircraft will
fly its first regularly scheduled passenger flight tomorrow from
Seattle to Anchorage, Alaska, where it will receive a similar
homecoming welcome. Following its stop in Anchorage, the aircraft
continued its Sunday route with stops in Cordova, Yakutat and
Juneau, Alaska.

Beginning on Monday, the aircraft
will fly passenger routes along the West Coast, connecting destinations
as far north as Alaska and as far south as Mexico. The aircraft
also will fly east to Denver, Chicago and Dallas/Fort Worth,
becoming an important tool to promote wild Alaska seafood.

The "Salmon-Thirty-Salmon"
aircraft features an original design by Mark Boyle, a Seattle-based
wildlife artist who is also a recognized leader in the livery
design of commercial aircraft. The project required three times
as many hours to paint as the normal livery, using Mylar paint
to create an iridescent look and airbrushing techniques to make
the fish painting appear three dimensional.

The aircraft received its new
livery at Goodrich Aviation Technical Services of Everett, Wash.,
with painting provided by Associated Painters and design managed
by Teague Associates.

The 737-400 aircraft has been
in Alaska's fleet since 1997 and was originally scheduled to
be re-painted with Alaska's traditional Eskimo livery. Alaska's
fleet includes four other themed aircraft, two featuring the
airline's alaskaair.com logo and two commemorating the carrier's
partnership with Disneyland Resort®.

Based in Anchorage, Alaska,
the Alaska Fisheries Marketing Board is a private, non-profit
organization created by Congress in 2003 to increase the marketability
and value of Alaska seafood products. Alaska Airlines and sister
carrier, Horizon Air, together serve 88 cities through an expansive
network throughout Alaska, the Lower 48, Canada and Mexico.

First Lady Nancy Murkowski
flew on the "Salmon Thirty Salmon" from Seattle after
attending a roll out ceremony at the SeaTac Airport where Alaska
Airlines landed the world's largest king salmon-stretching nearly
120 feet and weighing in at more than 140,000 pounds-at Seattle-Tacoma
International Airport Saturday.

The Anchorage ceremony also
included remarks from Alaska Airlines Chairman Bill Ayer and
a special salmon homecoming dance by the Alaska Native Heritage
Center Dancers.